Chapter 78 : Chapter 78

Chapter 078: Endless Learning

It cannot be emphasized enough.

I am a regressor, a swordsman who has experienced death.

I often remind myself.

As a swordsman, I must reach a higher realm than in my previous life, and my perspective on life must mature as well.

From that standpoint, I feel a slight sense of skepticism.

While my skills are undoubtedly improving, the more I progress, the more I confront the deficiencies within myself.

As impurities are stripped away, the voids in my heart become visible for the first time.

For instance, my ability to meet and interact with people, to build and maintain relationships.

“Are you really going straight to Theodore?”

“There’s no time to dawdle. We don’t know when the Order’s magic circle might collapse.”

“Even so…”

Anderson’s daughter, Annil, was exchanging farewells with Bonnie and Clyde.

The taciturn Clyde was there as well.

Anderson and I stood on opposite sides, a fair distance apart, watching this chaotic scene unfold with the three of them in the middle.

‘What’s with those three?’

I wondered if Anderson was thinking the same thing.

Not only were the kidnappers and the hostage comforting each other, but they were reluctant to part ways.

Annil, the former hostage, even seemed on the verge of tears.

‘…Why?’

I stared at the three of them intently.

My expression probably looked quite serious.

I couldn’t understand it.

Sure, Bonnie and Clyde were good-natured at heart, but could Annil really open her heart to her captors like that?

Unless Bonnie had used some kind of mind-control magic…

“It’s time to go. Annil, don’t worry. We’ll make sure you and your father stay safe.”

“That’s not what’s important.”

“What’s that? If that’s not important, what is? You’re too soft, kid. Always remember: a noble’s pride comes first, even in death. Just like your father.”

At that moment, Anderson was turned slightly, scratching his ear.

When he suddenly felt eyes on him, he twitched his eyebrows.

“…After this is all over, promise you’ll come see me.”

“Of course. I promise.”

As their farewell drew to a close, Anderson stepped forward as if he’d been waiting for the moment.

“Bonnie and Clyde of the Barrow Mercenary Band, and Sword Fiend Bihen Benkou. I’d like to invite the three of you to my estate in Haspeld. We should clear up any misunderstandings and discuss future plans, don’t you think?”

“Spare me the empty words.”

“You’re right. Those were empty words. Thanks for seeing through it, Thunder Empress Bonnie.”

Anderson handed Bonnie a brooch adorned with the Homer family crest.

“With just an ordinary pass, how long would it take to meet Lord Theodore? With this, you can gain an audience immediately without waiting.”

Bonnie, Clyde, and even Annil stared at Anderson in surprise.

Anderson coughed awkwardly, avoiding their gazes.

…What’s with this guy? It’s like he prepared for this just in case, but I didn’t expect him to act so boldly.

He looked up and glared at me, his eyes filled with displeasure.

“…Do you really have to do this?”

He was referring to Zahara and Toxeed.

I tapped the twin short swords hanging crossed above my tailbone.

I planned to use them until my Imperial Sword was repaired.

I replied, “I’m not taking them. I’m just borrowing them for a while.”

“How can I trust you? For all I know, you might squander the payment for all the mercenaries here.”

“That’s—! I gave my word! On the honor of the Homer family, I would never do something so disgraceful…”

“I’ll take it as a token of the Homer family’s support for Lady Adeline. If things go wrong, we’ll say I stole them. That way, the Archduke won’t hold it against you, right? Not that it’ll come to that.”

Let me say again, I’m not stealing them—I’m borrowing them.

In a situation where it wouldn’t be strange to claim them as spoils of war, I’m being more than generous.

Of course, from Anderson’s perspective, he must be fuming with indignation.

‘Hm?’

Instead of throwing a fit, Anderson’s expression was strangely solemn.

After a brief pause, as if he’d made up his mind, he spoke slowly.

“My family’s ancestor, who guarded the first Duke of Conwell like a shadow, wielded those blades. Countless traitors met their end by that sword. In other words, Zahara Toxeed is the treasured blade that made Conwell what it is today.”

The only thing trembling on him was his sparse hair.

Standing still with his arms crossed, he suddenly seemed towering.

I found myself overwhelmed by the atmosphere…

Anderson spoke in a resolute voice.

“I, Anderson Homer, declare Bihen Benkou a great warrior of the Homer family. You are worthy of wielding Zahara Toxeed.”

“…”

“Slay Archduke Callence and his rebellious followers without mercy.”

Anderson turned sharply. His long cloak flowed like waves along his movement.

“Until Zahara Toxeed fulfills its purpose. You can return it after that.”

He waved his hand dismissively as he walked away.

We watched in silence as Anderson took a wrong turn, hurriedly backtracked, and finally went the right way.

Perhaps, even after living two lives, I still haven’t fully understood a single person.

* * *

The hill where Firefield Village stood was on the border between Ludglen and Haspeld.

After parting with Anderson and his daughter, the three of us headed to Ludglen.

“An Imperial shaman?”

Bonnie asked, her expression one of surprise.

After catching up on each other’s situations, that was my first question.

Since Bonnie was knowledgeable about Kingdom magic, I thought she might have some clues.

“I’ve heard of Imperial shamanism. But I’ve never heard of someone like that in Conwell.”

“Is that so.”

“Are you sure? Could it be dark magic or some manipulative spell mistaken for shamanism?”

I shook my head. No way.

I remembered it clearly.

‘Telepathic transmission and a medium.’

If it had been magic similar to telepathic transmission, it wouldn’t have worked on me in the first place.

A medium, as the name suggests, is a tool that channels the power of magic or shamanism.

It’s the link connecting the caster and the manifestation.

Magic is simple.

Mana is the only medium.

Shamanism, however, is different. Its forms are complex, and its mediums are diverse.

The talisman Marian used that day was one such medium.

“The Empire is involved in this fight.”

It might sound contradictory for me, an Imperial, to say this, but Bonnie and Clyde weren’t foolish enough to take it out of context.

“The Empire… you mean the Gunbel Trading Company?”

“No. Ness was obsessively questioning Jayden about the Gunbel Trading Company’s whereabouts. If they were in cahoots, there’d be no need for that. They’re a separate faction.”

Clyde, who had been silent until now, widened his eyes and asked,

“The Empire is intervening in Conwell’s succession struggle…? Why?”

I fell silent for a moment.

I didn’t have the means to explain to them what would happen to the Kingdom in the future.

“…For now, that’s just my theory. Regardless, we can’t sit idly by.”

“Got it. So, you’re moving with us, right?”

“No. For the time being, I’ll move alone and disrupt the Archduke’s rear as much as possible.”

“For the time being?”

“Viscount Mosfield of Belmont is leading an army south. I need to join them by the promised date.”

Just in case, I asked if they could rally a mercenary band, but the answer was grim.

The mercenary bands that had supported Lady Adeline were targeted first by the Archduke and were mostly wiped out at the start of the conflict.

At this point, Adeline’s main force would have to rely on external reinforcements.

“Both of you, persuade Lord Theodore and bring him back.”

We headed to a stable to borrow horses.

The moment we entered, we couldn’t help but be taken aback.

‘…What’s this?’

From the outside, it looked like a sizable stable.

The roof was impressive, and the exterior walls were well-maintained.

But inside, it was desolate.

Empty stalls with swinging doors creaked pitifully, and the hay visible through the gaps was all scraped bare.

“Is anyone here?”

Bonnie shouted.

Her voice echoed through the space.

“Hic!”

A loud hiccup came from somewhere.

The three of us flinched simultaneously.

“Can’t you see? This place is done for. Take whatever’s useful and go.”

A middle-aged man staggered over from a corner, holding a bottle of liquor.

The stench of cheap alcohol wafted over.

Just then, a faint neighbor came from one side.

I asked, “It doesn’t sound like there are no horses at all?”

“…Hic! Two left. Just two. Can’t give you both. I need one to escape.”

“Escape?”

At my question, the owner blew on his bottle like a trumpet.

Wiping the liquor dribbling down his chin, he muttered,

“This place, well… This stable’s been in my family for three generations. Three generations. But now it’s ruined. The Archduke took everything.”

“If they were requisitioned as warhorses, you should’ve received decent compensation. Why say it’s ruined? And what’s this about escaping?”

“Compensation? Ha! A passing dog would laugh.”

The last drops of liquor trickled onto the owner’s tongue.

Throwing the empty bottle aside, he slumped to the ground.

“Everything was taken, so what compensation?

Hic!

You must not know, but to us Conwell merchants, Archduke Callence is like a natural enemy.

He doesn’t tolerate a merchant hoarding even a single coin.

No, he doesn’t even understand why we would.

Why? Because he thinks everything born and raised on this land belongs to the Conwell family.”

The owner rambled on, then let out a hollow laugh.

“It’s not entirely wrong. But Lady Adeline didn’t think that way. Quite the opposite. She said we needed to fill our bellies first for Conwell to prosper. Well, what’s the point of saying this now? That’s how it is.”

“Why are you escaping?”

The owner sighed deeply before answering.

“…I didn’t know.”

“Didn’t know what?”

“The person who came that day… I didn’t know the head of the Gremio Trading Company was Lady Adeline.”

His story went like this: Some time ago, a prominent Conwell trading company left a horse as collateral for a deal.

When Callence’s men stormed the stable to requisition warhorses, they found it.

Through them, he learned the horse belonged to Adeline, and he was branded as someone who collaborated with her.

“It was a rare fine horse, so I was surprised, but to think it was Lady Adeline… I don’t resent her one bit. I only regret not recognizing her that day.”

From what I heard, it was the day I first arrived in Ludglen.

Adeline had been posing as the head of a trading company, and it seems she crossed paths with him then.

“So, what’s going to happen to you?”

“Once the Archduke has his eye on a merchant, isn’t it obvious? I heard in Easton that merchants there are suffering all sorts of humiliation from Zephyros. My fate won’t be any different.”

“…”

“If you understand, leave before you get caught up in trouble.”

Struggling to his feet, the owner pointed to one side of the stable.

“Take both horses. I can’t leave this place. I can’t abandon a stable that’s been in my family for three generations.”

“Did the Archduke give any hint about when they’ll come for you?”

“From what I heard, the Archduke is stationing troops in Ludglen to defend against Theodore’s forces. They’re even sending one of the Four Wings. Well, I’ll probably be caught then.”

The three of us exchanged glances.

The Four Wings. Those guys.

Yeats, the spearman, the pink-haired one, the magic-using kid.

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